this site usually features my holiday adventures

These were the challenges presented to us by Lawrence Moore, lately director of the URC Windermere Centre, who was lead speaker at the URC Holiday Forum held at The Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire during August.

Christianity in today’s society – the church no longer looks like Jesus

Discipleship & faith in the Gospels – a road trip with Jesus

Missional Discipleship – the Way of the Cross versus Survival

Discipleship – living for the sake of the neediest

Being part of the Good News

The content of these five talks, followed by discussions in groups and with Lawrence, formed the central core of the Forum around which the holiday activities, games and outings swirled in lively profusion.

Christianity in today’s society – the church no longer looks like Jesus

Recent research reveals that the Christian Church in the West is in crisis. The primary reason is the yawning gap between Jesus and the institution that bears his name. People of good will and social conscience, although interested in faith, see the Christian Church as Bad News. Outsiders recognise more clearly than we do the gap between their experience of us as church and what they imagine and expect of Jesus. The scale of the crisis is apparent:

Christians born in the UK between 2001-2011 fell by 5.3 million – likely to reduce to zero by 2067

CoE declining fastest, could probably disappear by 2033

Church attendance declined steeply from 11.8% in1980 to 5% in 2015

URC numbers in 2015 declined to 27% of 1980 level

A US poll of 16-29 year olds revealed only 16% had a positive attitude to church

Overwhelmingly church was viewed as …. Judgemental, hypocritical, old fashioned, too involved in conservative politics and anti-gay.

Yet discussion of Jesus with young people is overwhelmingly positive, he tops Wikipedia’s list of the ten most significant people in world history. He is spoken of warmly and admiringly while comments about the church are negative and hostile. We must conclude that Christianity in today’s society no longer looks like Jesus. Missional discipleship needs to look like Jesus and make the same sort of differences in the lives of people and communities as he did.

Discipleship & faith in the Gospels – a road trip with Jesus

Each of the four gospels calls us to follow Jesus by telling the unfolding story of his ministry in the context of a journey, which the disciples undertake with him. The gospels are not histories of Jesus’ life, but a summons to join the community of Jesus followers.

The writers challenge us, their readers, in terms of our faithfulness and obedience, how transformed and abundant our lives are, how compassionate and forgiving we are, particularly to the marginalised and how courageously we stand up to the forces which oppose the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed.

Jesus’ Good News is that God is transforming this world into the Kingdom of God. This means that the way the world works is being undone. God is creating a world of life and flourishing which benefits the poor and marginalised first. No wonder he was so well received in impoverished Galilee. As he turns towards Jerusalem his message provokes hostility from the ruling powers, a confrontation he knows he will lose. This is why the call to discipleship is so uncompromising. Are you prepared to follow wherever this journey with Jesus will lead … even to the cross? There is no easier way, but it is the road to life.

Missional Discipleship – the Way of the Cross versus Survival

Jesus makes two calls to his disciples. The first in Galilee is from their homes, livelihoods and families. The second is at Caesarea Philippi when he makes it clear that following him will entail the journey to Jerusalem, suffering and death. He proclaims … “whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew16:25)

There is no turning back. Proclaiming and living by Kingdom standards will inevitably lead to a Roman cross. Jesus rejects the compromises urged on him by the disciples. But God brings Easter out of Good Friday. Jesus’ death and resurrection become the means by which God brings a new creation out of the ashes of the old. Dying and rising must happen to us and to our world so that we can become all that God intends us to be. Through the Holy Spirit we share in Jesus’ own death and resurrection. Baptism is symbolic of this, but is not a once for all event, but the pattern for the whole of Christian life. So learning and developing habits of dying and rising are at the heart of spiritual discipline. It is the secret of becoming and living like Jesus. It is the key to effective and faithful mission. It is The Way that Jesus calls us to follow.

The Church will not be renewed to look like Jesus until it rejects its addiction to survivalism. Survivalism is a mindset – a way of “doing church” that uses dwindling resources of people and money to “last as long as possible” rather than make a Jesus-shaped difference. This is the direct opposite to the Way of the Cross. The salvation of Easter would not have been possible if Jesus had prioritised his own survival. The Church’s priority must be to make a Jesus shaped difference to our people and communities, not to prolong its own life at all costs. In survival mode churches are paralysed from making the courageous decisions that Jesus calls for and cut themselves off from the abundant life he offers.

Discipleship – living for the sake of the neediest

God’s mission in Jesus was to transform the world into the Kingdom of God. In the Lord’s Prayer we involve ourselves in this transformation …. your will be done on earth … and start with me/us.

It is clear from Jesus’ earthly activities that he prioritised the needs of the poor, the marginalised, the excluded in the society of his day. It is clear that he calls us to do the same. In the gospels Jesus speaks of money 400 times, nearly as often as Kingdom. Money is power and its use can corrupt the greedy and sustain the needy. We are told that the world today can feed all the hungry, but the greed of the wealthy impoverishes multitudes. Little wonder wars and famine abound in the world today.

It is claimed that the Church failed to follow Jesus from 313AD when the Roman Empire embraced the western church making it the Church of Empire instead of the Kingdom of God. Many horrors have taken place since, the Crusades, the Inquisition, Trans Atlantic Slavery, Colonialism, anti-Semitism leading to the Holocaust, Apartheid, subjection of women, persecution of homosexuals, all instigated in the name of the Church. Small wonder that increasing numbers of the young have come to regard the Church as toxic.

There is urgent need to discover renewal, refreshment and resourcing through the Holy Spirit in order to engage more effectively and faithfully in mission – life lived for the sake of the world rather than the Church.

Being part of the Good News

So how is this to be done? Lawrence suggested four areas to be explored.

Renewing covenant: Contract is what shapes worldly relationships and sadly can be found also in the Church. It sets out what we owe each other and can demand from each other and what the limits of duty and care are. By contrast covenant is about grace, generosity, compassion and no-strings commitments. We need to explore and renew all our relationships and commitments.

Learning to trust: Jesus trusted absolutely in God and urged us to do likewise. Too much anxiety about the future imperils our personal and church life limiting and controlling people rather than sharing with them the adventure of discerning God’s will.

Investing in Change: Change is scary and uncomfortable. Yet change is at the heart of discipleship. We need to learn how to leave the comfort of the familiar for the vitality of the new life to which Jesus is calling us. We are safest with Jesus – but not safe in the conventional sense.

We are God’s answer: The Holy Spirit equips us for discipleship and mission with gifts so that the church individually and collectively can become more recognisably like Jesus and the Good News he proclaims. We need to discover the gifts and resources that we already have “in the room”, rather than assuming that the answer lies in the people who are missing (particularly young people). Then we will be liberated to live joyfully out of God’s abundance, rather than emphasising the scarcity which terrifies and paralyses us at present.

Wendy Atkins : Hadleigh, Suffolk : September 2018

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The United Reformed Church

First an attempt to explain our name:

Church

We are part of western Christendom, derived from the Early Church, the first followers of Jesus, institutionalised by Constantine, the official religion of the Roman Empire, later the Holy Roman Empire.

Reformed

At the Reformation (1400-1600s) we became part of the Reformed Tradition following the teaching of John Calvin in Europe and John Knox particularly in Scotland. Sola Scriptura was the slogan of the day, only according to scripture (rejecting some of the traditions and practices which were no longer deemed appropriate). Today there are 80 million followers worldwide, one of the largest Protestant groupings.

In England reformers pressed for greater reform than occurred in the Church of England and as early as Elizabeth’s reign were eager to reject the monarch as head of the church (while remaining loyal citizens), rejecting bishops, also rejecting the priestly function as mediators between people and God. They rejected vestments, statues, candles, purgatory & oral confession, recognised only two sacraments, communion and baptism, rejected mystical transformation of the bread and wine at communion and claimed the cup as well as bread for the people. Set liturgy as in the BCP was also rejected. The bible was to be read in English.

Other positive features were the centrality of the reading and preaching of the Word, self-government of the individual gathered congregation, rejecting the parochial system – this still remains in the Church Meeting led by the Holy Spirit being the final arbiter in local church affairs. Simplicity of worship was confirmed. Hierarchical ministry was replaced by well-trained ministers responsible for the local church and in some congregations presbyters reporting to groups of churches. Elders were appointed to support the minister in worship, witness and administration. Predestination was a feature in the early days, but has faded away over time.

United

In England some different groups of reformers became known as independents, Brownists, congregationalists. In Scotland presbyterians became the Established Church, The Church of Scotland and so remains.

In England as a result of the Civil War for a short time the reformers were in civil power, but at the Restoration of the monarchy free church ministers were ejected from their livings and they and their congregations suffered deprivation of freedom and livelihood, leading to emigration to the Netherlands and later settlements on the eastern seaboards of North America. Those who remained here suffered greatly. Over the centuries greater toleration enabled free churches to flourish, names changed as groups regrouped and by the early 20th.century the Congregational Union represented the majority of such churches in England. Meanwhile Scots seeking work in English cities had set up their own presbyterian churches in London and other industrial centres. Eventually after 30 years of preliminary talks and some adjustments to each other’s practices, the Congregational Church as it had reformed itself and the Presbyterian Church of England became one at a historic service in Westminster Abbey on 5th.October 1972 (40 years this year). The United Reformed Church thus came into being. The first major re-joining of denominations since the Reformation and seen at that time as a hopeful sign of ecumenism for the future. Early in the 80s Churches of Christ joined the URC, and later Scottish Congregationalists, but with the subsequent breakdown of talks between the Church of England and the Methodist Church no organic unions have taken place since and hopes of ecumenism have been realised only in Local Ecumenical Partnerships (as at Christchurch Needham Market) and in Churches Together activities.

The URC Today

Within the national body of the URC there is a huge variation in worship style between churches, and a wide spread of theological understanding, ranging from literal interpretation of scripture to liberal, progressive attitudes. Sola Scriptura has become increasingly embarrassing since modern bible scholarship has widened our knowledge and understanding. Holding all this together in one church is probably as challenging as in the Church of England and probably other traditions.

Although the Church Meeting is the body which governs the management of the local congregation and this is properly the most precious gift we can offer to the church in general, a national structure with numerous regional synods is necessary to manage ministry, property, financing of projects and ministerial and lay training. General Assembly meets every two years and in the interim Mission Council carries on the business of the national church. A lay Moderator (currently Mrs.Val Morrison) and an ordained Moderator (Revd.Dr. Michael Jagessar) are appointed as leaders of General Assembly. There are two training establishments for ministers, Northern College in Manchester and our own Westminster College at Cambridge. Ministers of Word and Sacrament , stipendiary and self-supporting serve our churches, as well as church related community workers, many retired ministers as well as a multitude of lay preachers, trained and untrained. They do a great job as in most churches where numbers of members are dropping, building closures are taking place and fewer candidates are coming forward for ministerial training.

The Call to Ministry

Some of you may be surprised at the method by which churches choose their minister and ministers choose their churches. We regard it as the safest way in which the Holy Spirit can be given freedom to operate. A church in vacancy prepares a Profile describing its worship, work, witness and aspirations and presents it to the local Synod. A minister seeking a move does likewise, effectively producing a CV and presents it to any Synod to which he feels called. When a likely match is perceived the minister is invited to meet with the church’s appointment group unofficially and if the outcome looks promising he/she is invited to preach “with a view”. This will usually entail leading a Sunday service and meeting with all church members in a relaxed question and answer session. Shortly after, at a Church Meeting, members will be asked to consider whether a call should be made. This will generally only be made in the case of a large majority vote, although minority views will be given careful consideration. If the result is positive the minister is informed and he/she is invited to respond to the call.

Ordained Elders support the minister in the worship and witness of the church. There are now additionally area partnerships, where groups of churches work together where appropriate. We are grouped with Stowmarket, its village chapels and Debenham.

Famous hymn writers have emerged from our tradition from Isaac Watts onwards, Bryn Rees who was my minister and most recently the late Fred Kaan, Alan Gaunt and Brian Wren. We also sing songs by John Bell of the Iona community.

My experience of URC churches is limited to four of which I have been a member, several I have visited and reports of folk at conferences drawn from all over the country. David and I have participated in the URC Holiday Forum held at Swanwick each year.

Training for Learning and Serving, TLS

I have recently completed the URCs course for lay people called TLS, Training for Learning & Serving. The two year foundation course, based on bible extracts seen in the context of church and life can be supplemented by an additional year specialising, for instance, in lay preaching. There are several elements to the course, private study, tutorial groups, residential weekends and an area of service. Each student invites a support group to encourage and oversee their progress. One of my colleagues has recently completed a lay preaching placement at Great Meeting. The course is very well designed and a great aid to faith and service. It is open to all denominations.

Roberta Rominger

Some of the thoughts of our General Secretary might be appropriate to add at this point. These are a selection of the things Roberta Rominger loves about our church:

· Openness to change, arising from a strong commitment to following where the Spirit leads

· We are theologically diverse. It is a gift though not an easy one.

· We are free to craft worship as we feel led. Across the theological spectrum, our worship is regularly uplifting and challenging.

· Our little church has produced a wealth of fantastic hymn-writers.

· I love our particular mix of dignity and informality.

· We are committed to conciliar decision-making. It’s about the Spirit and the people, not hierarchical leadership.

· You don’t have to leave your brain at the door – the URC welcomes intellectual enquiry and wants faith to be intellectually rigorous.

· We believe in the ministry of the whole people of God.

· Ministers are called to churches. Very different from being appointed.

· TLS Training for Learning and Serving is the best.

· We’ve been ordaining women for 95 years now.

· Church Related community workers, a URC invention, combine professional community work skills with theological insight.

· We offer ecumenical leadership locally out of all proportion to our size.

· We exist thanks to brave decisions. We are still willing to take them.

Some Features of Great Meeting URC Church, Hadleigh

Building

The building is traditional meeting house style typical of Victorian free churches, it has a prominent pulpit featuring the importance of preaching the Word, a gallery indicating the size of congregations in the past. It is now undergoing renovations fitting the 21st century, better heating, replacing pews, increasing vestibule, toilet and kitchen facilities, making the worship centre suitable for multiple use.

History

The church originated in 1688 after the Declaration of Indulgence.

Originally at the site of No.9 High Street, later present building built on the site of the old manse. The Old Manse in Benton Street dates from 1712, the ministry of John Darby. The present manse is a modest bungalow at 6,Raven Way.

The Sunday School dates from 1767, day school from 1832 – 1901, now Community Primary School in Station Road. The school building is now the Ansell Centre. The school house is let.

In the 1851 census the following worshippers were counted:

Independent Chapel 1385, St.Mary’s 947, Primitive Methodists 104, Baptist 60. There were no Roman Catholics meeting in the town at that time.

Isaac Tom was minister for 57 years, he died in 1801 and is buried in St.Mary’s churchyard.

Currently the congregation is made up of 80+ worshippers including 25 young people. The style is informal and dignified. Participation by many is in keeping with our understanding of the priesthood of all believers. Elements of worship are similar to those as in most mainstream churches, though less formal than in RC or some Churches of England:

Adoration, prayer and praise, confession and assurance of pardon (not absolution), reading of the Word, (we use the Revised Lectionary) preaching on the Word, thanksgiving, prayers for the church and the world (intercessions), completed with commissioning. We do not regularly recite the creeds, but do rededicate ourselves regularly to worship and work.

Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday in the month, served in our seats by the elders. It is an integrated part of the morning service. There are occasional evening services led by youngsters or other groups.

Music is led by a music group, piano, organ, guitar using some modern worship songs, some traditional hymns. Inspire music group contribute as well as the children’s percussion. The words of the hymns and songs are projected, we do not use books. Other elements are included in worship as appropriate, birthdays, cards,video and other projection when suitable. Variety is the key to our worship.

Membership is by profession of faith, ratified by Church Meeting, effected usually at a Communion service. Recently adult baptism has been a feature and has taken place even in the sea. Infant baptisms, weddings and funerals are held regularly and have similarities to most mainstream churches.

Ministry

Jim has been our minister for 14 years and with the very active and considerable support of Milly the church has flourished during his ministry in terms of worship, witness, membership and community involvement, with an unusually wide spread of ages represented in the worshipping and working congregation.

Activities

The following activities are part of the church programme:

Children’s Sunday Club with rota of helpers, Explorers for teenagers, Inspire, music group, singing & instrumental, Eternal, cell group for girls 11-18, Eternal Plus for young women, other groups for youngsters, the vital Church building team, numerous study groups , arisen from need and interest, monthly Guild, devotional alternating with general & seasonal interest, Thursday Group, testimonies of various kinds, Vision for Life Group, just completed studying Philippians, Film Discussion Group, AtoZ of the New Testament, Lunch time Bible Study group, Badminton, Scrabble

Outreach

The Ansell Community Centre, Churches Together, Mothers & toddlers, mums and tots, Come in for Coffee every Tuesday morning with prayer service, What do you think…..? over a drink at the George for men.

Completion of building re-ordering in both the church building and Ansell Centre.

Preparation of Elders and members for forthcoming interregnum when Jim & Milly leave on retirement in September 2013

Publications (offered for perusal)

The Manuel – The Basis of Union of the URC

Copies of Reform the monthly magazine of the church

Copies of magazines from Great Meeting and Stowmarket URC

Order of Service of Induction of the Revd.Chris Wood at Stowmarket URC

Numerous copies of the Annual Prayer Handbook

Our name – a personal reflection.

The name of the United Reformed Church does describe its origins adequately, but I could wish for a more dynamic name! In Australia Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Methodists have formed theUniting Church of Australia. This suggests an on-going process which I would prefer to see applied to reform also. Understandably The Uniting Reforming Church was deemed unsuitable as a working title, perhaps due to its perceived instability. However it may be that the Holy Spirit can operate more freely in an environment where further union and reform are still on the cards. This is certainly the intention, if you read the Basis of Union, I would like the name to have reflected this also.

The URC website makes this claim

We have dreamed of the church united in essentials,

tolerant in non-essentials and

loving in all things

so that the world might really believe and

Christ’s community might come.

Wendy Atkins – November 2012

Presented to the Churches Together Study Group – Sharing the Family Silver